How Much Does a Rabbit Cost? (Monthly and Lifetime)
HouseholdPets researched the lifetime cost of owning a rabbit in 2023. This has been analysed further using an inflation forecast to inform pet owners of the future costs.
Methodology (How Costs Are Calculated)
1) Using individual prices found online, like products available on the Pets at Home website, to form a comprehensive report on the average cost of owning a rabbit can help inform owners of the financial aspects.
2) The different sizes and breeds of rabbits have also been taken into account to ensure the costs breakdown is as in-depth as it can be.
3) This report has been developed further by using an inflation forecast to estimate the costs in future years, following rabbits’ average life expectancies of 8.5 years.
It is hoped this will help potential rabbit owners make an informed decision when choosing their new pet.
Results
Owning a rabbit can be separated into lifetime and monthly costs.
This report also considers how food costs can vary and affect the lifetime and monthly totals. Different sizes of rabbits will consume different quantities of food, so information has been broken down further for small, medium, large, and giant rabbits.
Lifetime Cost of Owning a Rabbit
| Rabbit Size | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rabbit from a Breeder (1kg | 8.5 years) | £2,610.43 | £6,349.56 | £12,368.15 |
| Small Rabbit from Pets at Home (1kg | 8.5 years) | £2,647.80 | £6,290.31 | £12,140.26 |
| Medium Rabbit from a Breeder (2kg | 8.5 years) | £2,749.21 | £6,713.65 | £12,869.75 |
Medium Rabbit from Pets at Home (2kg | 8.5 years) | £2,839.21 | £6,673.65 | £12,679.75 |
| Large Rabbit from a Breeder (3kg | 8.5 years) | £2,985.62 | £7,096.99 | £15,549.20 |
| Large Rabbit from Pets at Home (3kg | 8.5 years) | £3,030.62 | £7,056.99 | £15,359.20 |
| Giant Rabbit from a Breeder (4kg | 8.5 years) | £3,215.32 | £7,557.00 | £17,228.65 |
| Giant Rabbit from Pets at Home (4kg | 8.5 years) | £3,260.32 | £7,517.00 | £17,038.65 |
The lifetime costs can be broken down as average monthly costs.
Monthly Cost of Owning a Rabbit
| Rabbit Size | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rabbit from a Breeder (1kg | 8.5 years) | £25.59 | £62.25 | £121.26 |
| Small Rabbit from Pets at Home (1kg | 8.5 years) | £25.96 | £61.67 | £119.02 |
| Medium Rabbit from a Breeder (2kg | 8.5 years) | £27.39 | £65.82 | £135.98 |
| Medium Rabbit from Pets at Home (2kg | 8.5 years) | £27.84 | £65.43 | £134.12 |
| Large Rabbit from a Breeder (3kg | 8.5 years) | £29.27 | £69.58 | £152.44 |
| Large Rabbit from Pets at Home (3kg | 8.5 years) | £29.71 | £69.19 | £150.58 |
| Giant Rabbit from a Breeder (4kg | 8.5 years) | £31.52 | £74.09 | £168.91 |
| Giant Rabbit from Pets at Home (4kg | 8.5 years) | £31.96 | £73.70 | £167.05 |
Detailed Data - See All the Costs of Owning a Rabbit
The cost of owning a rabbit can be split into two categories; initial costs and ongoing costs.
Initial costs are payments made when first buying the rabbit; this includes the cost of the rabbit, cage or hutch, initial vet care, accessories, and more.
Ongoing costs, which are purchases made regularly throughout the rabbit’s life, include vaccination from the vet, food, bedding, etc.
The essential items to buy with a pet rabbit are listed as well as their prices in the tables below.
Initial Costs
The breed, size, and quality of products can affect the initial costs, but most people can expect to pay between £498.47 and £2,358.86 in the first year of owning a rabbit.
Cost of the Rabbit
| Type of Rabbit | Data | Data | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rabbit from a Breeder | £15.00 | £100.00 | £250.00 |
| Rabbit from Pets at Home | £60.00 | £60.00 | £60.00 |
Whether the rabbit is bought from a breeder or a pet store, like Pets at Home, will affect the cost of the rabbit. Pets at Home sell rabbits at £60 each, while breeders’ prices can vary between £15 and £250.
As previously mentioned, rabbit owners can pay up to £2,358.86 in the first year of ownership. This total includes the cost of the rabbit, vet care (vaccinations and neutering or spaying), food, housing, and other vital items.
Vet Costs
| Service | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neutering/Spaying | £169.00 | £169.00 | £169.00 |
| Vaccinations | £50.00 | £95.00 | £125.00 |
The health and wellbeing of a rabbit is an important aspect for owners; this is why it is encouraged to neuter or spay a rabbit and keep its vaccinations up-to-date. However, this is another costly aspect of owning a rabbit, as the initial vet care can cost up to £294.
Other One-Off Initial Costs
| Item | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harness and Lead Set | £5.00 | £6.00 | £7.00 |
| Bowl | £2.00 | £4.50 | £7.00 |
| Water Bottle | £2.00 | £3.00 | £6.00 |
| Hutch/Cage | £50.00 | £130.00 | £240.00 |
| Litter Tray | £8.00 | £10.00 | £12.00 |
| Bed | £6.00 | £12.00 | £18.00 |
| Toy | £1.00 | £5.00 | £11.00 |
| Carrier | £12.00 | £18.00 | £54.69 |
| Brush | £5.00 | £7.00 | £9.00 |
Ongoing Costs
Again, the size and breed of the rabbit can change the ongoing costs. A bigger rabbit will likely consume more food, for example. According to Household Pets’ report, rabbit owners can spend between £2,610.43 and £17,228.65 throughout their rabbits’ lifetimes.
After the first year of ownership in 2023, rabbit owners can spend up to £1,611.55 the following year.
Cost to Feed a Rabbit
A rabbit’s diet is primarily hay, vegetables, and nuggets. The latter is often the most expensive food product, costing up to £740.88 on average for a year’s supply.
Monthly Food Costs
| Rabbit Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rabbit from a Breeder (1kg | 8.5 years) | £2.25 | £3.01 | £13.72 |
| Small Rabbit from Pets at Home (1kg | 8.5 years) | £2.25 | £3.01 | £13.72 |
| Medium Rabbit from a Breeder (2kg | 8.5 years) | £4.13 | £6.76 | £28.81 |
| Medium Rabbit from Pets at Home (2kg | 8.5 years) | £4.13 | £6.76 | £28.81 |
| Large Rabbit from a Breeder (3kg | 8.5 years) | £6.01 | £10.52 | £45.28 |
| Large Rabbit from Pets at Home (3kg | 8.5 years) | £6.01 | £10.52 | £45.28 |
| Giant Rabbit from a Breeder (4kg | 8.5 years) | £8.26 | £15.03 | £61.74 |
| Giant Rabbit from Pets at Home (4kg | 8.5 years) | £8.26 | £15.03 | £61.74 |
Lifetime Food Costs
| Rabbit Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Rabbit from a Breeder (1kg | 8.5 years) | £229.69 | £306.67 | £1,399.54 |
| Small Rabbit from Pets at Home (1kg | 8.5 years) | £229.69 | £306.67 | £1,399.54 |
| Medium Rabbit from a Breeder (2kg | 8.5 years) | £421.11 | £690.02 | £2,939.03 |
| Medium Rabbit from Pets at Home (2kg | 8.5 years) | £421.11 | £690.02 | £2,939.03 |
| Large Rabbit from a Breeder (3kg | 8.5 years) | £612.52 | £1,073.36 | £4,618.48 |
| Large Rabbit from Pets at Home (3kg | 8.5 years) | £612.52 | £1,073.36 | £4,618.48 |
| Giant Rabbit from a Breeder (4kg | 8.5 years) | £842.21 | £1,533.37 | £6,297.93 |
| Giant Rabbit from Pets at Home (4kg | 8.5 years) | £842.21 | £1,533.37 | £6,297.93 |
Cost of Bedding
Rabbit cages and hutches might need to be cleaned twice a week, which means fresh bedding will need to be bought regularly. Buying bedding, such as sawdust or paper products, could cost up to £34.14 per month.
Monthly Bedding Costs
| Item | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding | £4.11 | £15.85 | £34.16 |
Lifetime Bedding Costs
| Item | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding | £419.55 | £1,617.20 | £3,484.64 |
Other Ongoing Costs
| Item | Minimum Annual Cost | Mid Annual Cost | Maximum Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hay | £28.68 | £91.08 | £227.88 |
| Treats | £19.08 | £70.68 | £143.88 |
| Straw | £29.88 | £40.68 | £51.48 |
| Shampoo | £3.75 | £4.00 | £5.00 |
| Flea, Tick, and Worm Treatment | £30.00 | £74.00 | £79.00 |
Final Words
As it is advised that rabbits live in pairs or groups, these costs will be doubled at least.